Legendary hip-hop groups are a dime a dozen. N.W.A are considered the toughest, Gang Starr are the perfect duo for many, Native Tongue fans regard A Tribe Called Quest as the gold standard, whilst the alternative scene swears by the Beastie Boys or Cypress Hill. Yet many fans, despite their prolonged dry spell, still regard the political rappers of Public Enemy as ‘The Greatest Hip Hop Group Of All Time’. I agree with that to a certain extent, because as far as I’m concerned, the Beastie Boys are a cut above the rest.
In 1986, Def Jam was the music label of the moment, and Rick Rubin made his breakthrough as a producer with the Beastie Boys, introducing a distinctly heavier sound to hip-hop for the first time. Shortly afterwards, he signed a band that had recently been formed by Chuck D and Flavor Flav. Public Enemy took their hard-hitting sound a step further. Melodies were left out; heavy drums and an electronic wail set the rhythm, which is enhanced by samples.
Lyrically, Public Enemy pick up where the Black Movement in the US left off with the Black Panthers. They describe everything that is wrong with the country – issues that were only taken up again years later by the Black Lives Matter movement.
Their debut album was far less successful in the United States than in Europe, and it was only with their second album that they achieved cult status. After a few years, it was all over and the band called it a day.
Public Enemy - You're Gonna Get Yours
Public Enemy - Yo! Bum Rush The Show
Public Enemy - Miuzi Weights A Ton
It wasn't until years later that they returned to the limelight when they were commissioned to write the soundtrack for Spike Lee.
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